Much has been written on the question of orders from a superior officer. The problem is too complex for any simple reply. The national legislation to which soldiers are subject renders any member of the armed forces who refuses to carry out an order liable to presocution for a penal offence. In serious cases and especially in time of war military penal codes generally provide that the judge may sentence the offender to death. However the plea of superior orders does not necessarily relieve a military subordinate of penal responsibility for a violation of international humanitarian law committed in carrying out those orders.

Ever since its foundation, the ICRC has made considerable efforts to develop humanitarian law and to ensure that it is accepted by the States. Indeed, its activity in this field is acknowledged both by the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and by those of the ICRC itself. However, the ICRC is aware of the fact that the treaties which constitute humanitarian law, even if they are duly accepted by the States, could well remain a dead letter unless internal legal and practical measures are taken within State systems to guarantee their application.

The commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of the Movement will last until October 1989 and will provide a unique opportunity to make the general public, and especially young people, aware of the ideals and the humanitarian activities of the Red Cross and Red Crescent; it must also be a time to reflect upon the task accomplished by the Movement in 125 years of existence and on its prospects for the future.

The Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross, held in Geneva in October 1986, revised the 1952 Statutes of the International Red Cross, most of whose provisions dated back to 1928. The Conference thus adopted two drafts which had been submitted for its consideration, respectively entitled “Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement” and “Rules of Procedure” of the Movement.

In response to invitations by the Red Cross Societies of Norway and Sweden and the respective governments of these countries, ICRC President Cornelio Sommaruga visited Oslo from 24 to 26 January and Stockholm from 27 to 29 January 1988.

In Norway, the President had talks with leaders of the Norwegian Red Cross, notably Mr. Björn Bruland, President, HRH Crown Princess Sonja, Vice-President, Mr. Odd Grann, Secretary General, Mr. A. Torbjornsen, head of the International Department, and Mr. J. Egeland, head of Information. Mr. Sommaruga also had meetings with the following representatives of the Norwegian Government and public administration: Mr. Gunnar Berge, Minister for Finance, Mrs. Gjesteby, Secretary of State at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Mrs. E. Nordbó, Secretary of State to the Prime Minister.

Mr. Julio Maria Sanguinetti, President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, visited the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross on 16 March 1988.

He was received by the ICRC President, Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, together with several members of the Committee and other senior ICRC staff. Mr. Pär Stenbäck, Secretary General of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, was also present.

The mission of the President of the ICRC in Southern Africa from 12 to 20 February is described on page …

Ethiopia

Despite many difficulties, relief operations for hundreds of thousands of civilian victims of the conflict and drought continued at the beginning of 1988.

The difficulties encountered in delivering food to Tigre, one of the regions where the needs were greatest, forced the delegates on several occasions to postpone planned food distributions. In Wollo, the ICRC was still unable at the end of February to begin its relief programme.

IRRC No. 768, November–December 1987

Sixth Session of the General Assembly of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, p. 584, paragraph 2.

This paragraph states: “The Assembly was honoured by the presence at its opening ceremony of Mr. José Sarney, the Brazilian President…” This information provided to the IRRC was incorrect and in fact Mr. Sarney was unable to attend. At the end of the session, however, the delegates at the General Assembly heard a message from the Brazilian President on the humanitarian role of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.